Coastal Walmart dispute goes to LUBA

WARRENTON, Ore. (AP) — The Warrenton City Commission has voted to send a dispute over a proposed new Walmart store directly to the state Land Use Board of Appeals.

The Daily Astorian reports that both sides intended to appeal whatever decision the city made on the store's site design and requests for variances.

The city Planning Commission has granted its approval. The city commission voted Tuesday to recognize that as the city's final decision, in the interests of moving the process along.

A group called Clatsop Residents Against Walmart has raised four objections, including the lack of a wetlands permit and the lack a demonstrated hardship in the request for a variance to reduce the number of required bike spaces from 67 to 28.